Lesson Plan

Mindful Minutes Routine

Guide 5th graders in a 20-minute small-group mindfulness routine to practice breathing and grounding techniques for anxiety reduction and improved focus.

Teaching mindfulness skills in Tier 2 groups helps students build self-regulation tools, reduces disruptive behavior, and increases readiness to learn.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials & Space

5 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Five-Sense Scan

3 minutes

Step 2

Introduction & Goals

2 minutes

Step 3

Guided Breathing Circle

5 minutes

Step 4

Breath & Grounding Practice

6 minutes

Step 5

Cool-Down Reflection

4 minutes

Slide Deck

Breath & Ground Guide

Welcome students and introduce the slide deck. Explain: “These guides will help us calm our bodies and focus our minds. Let’s learn two quick tools you can use anytime.”

4-7-8 Breathing

Read each step aloud, modeling the counts. Invite students to place one hand on their belly. Guide them through one full cycle together.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding

Explain that naming what we notice helps us focus on the present moment and move away from worries. Invite volunteers to share one item they notice at each step.

Practice & Closing

Encourage students to practice these tools on their own, when they feel anxious or need a break. Close the slide deck by praising their effort.